Pebble Prints

Using this photograph I took showing texture and colours of Mousehole harbour shore, I have been experimenting with a variety of different monoprinting techniques. 

Using a gel printing plate with an image underneath, I built up the image using one colour at a time for each layer - starting with the lighter tones and finishing with the darker tones. I continued this process with all the colours until the image was complete. I used water based ink and applied it with a paintbrush then placed the paper onto the gel printing plate, taking care to line it up and used a roller to transfer the ink to the paper.

 Although time consuming, I like the result.

To develop this, I used a sheet of carbon paper to add small details and marks.

This is the result.

I then tried another process.

On a piece of glass, I rolled out a thin layer of blue oil based ink, placed a piece of paper on top and then placed the original photograph on top the paper. With fluid movements I drew the rock forms quickly with a pencil. I love the printed texture of the lines.

After photocopying the print above in black and white I added watercolour paint to pick out the individual rock forms and white acrylic to show the highlights. I think that the print marks combined with the paint gives the image a posterized effect.

Next, I produced an etching on silver card.

I selected and printed a close up area of the original image to work at a larger scale and attached it to a piece of silver card. After drawing over the image, I removed the photo and cut into the lines with a craft knife. 

This is my printing block.

Using oil based ink, I produced a collection of prints from this block. Having produced the prints, which are below, I prefer the look that the oil based ink has on the silver block above - the green moss colour gathered in the carved lines.